Filipino questioned over death of Indonesian ex-lover

GMANews/Pinoy Abroad, 02/18/2009

MANILA, Philippines - Although not the primary suspect for the crime, a Filipino is being cross-examined by a Singaporean court after his former Indonesian lover was found dead in 2007.

The Straits Times reported that 29-year-old Joseph Guerzon Corpuz is currently being cross-examined by the counsel of 35-year-old Bangladeshi Kamrul Hasan Adbul Quddus, who is accused of murdering 25-year-old Indonesian maid Yulia Afriyanti.

Quddus was Afriyanti's lover and a rival of Corpuz. The two have not personally met before the incident, but Corpuz said he had previously seen his rival's picture on the cellular phone he gave the Indonesian maid.

It was on December 9, 2007 when Afriyanti confessed to Corpuz that she was still in love with the Bangaldeshi construction worker.

Corpuz reportedly gave way but still kept in touch with the woman, in hopes that she might change her mind.

However, before she had the chance to do so, her naked body was found on December 16, stuffed in a cardboard box at the Viz @ Holland Condominium Private Apartments, 221 Queensway, Singapore which was under construction during that time.

According to the Strait Times, Quddus told the court that Afriyanti had called him to complain that Corpuz was allegedly forcing her to have sex with him on December 15 and that when he went to meet her, she was already dead.

But Corpuz said on the witness stand on Tuesday that he did not even know the location of the condominium, adding that he was at home on the day the crime was committed.

He said that he also tried to contact her many times but failed to do so. Quddus also said he tried to call Afriyanti everyday from December 16, a cop answered it four days later.

In court, Corpuz identified the cellular phone he had given Afriyanti, adding that the watch and several jewelry items shown might have also belonged to the Indonesian maid – all of which had been found in Quddus' possession.

However, the Bangladeshi denied that the accessories belonged to his former lover.

The murder trial is still in progress. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV